Off Topic » Did some helmet manufacturers design models with the purpose

Possibly L.J. Collier Jersey , but the lab testing by the biomechanical engineers appointed by the league and its players’ union accounted for such a practice in the rankings for the annual helmets poster that is displayed at every team facility.In the study, rotational velocity and acceleration are measured to evaluate helmets to determine which best reduced head impact severity. The poster was released last month and showed six of 11 helmets tested this year moved into the top-10 rated models.An important question was whether some helmets were constructed simply to get high marks in the extensive testing that took place for nearly four months.“I think that happens,” says Thad Ide, Riddell’s senior vice president of research and product development. “The NFL addressed it in its poster by graying out some areas. A lot of models no players are wearing and some of those may have been developed for the test, sort of a placeholder on the poster.”Grant Goulet, vice president of product innovation at Xenith LLC, says he is encouraged by the work put into this test.“It is scientifically rigorous,” he said. “However, it could also be something of a cautionary tale that more helmets got into that green group (at the top of the rankings). I think there could be a propensity to be engineering helmets for these tests and metrics and that could be what is bumping them up into this green group.“What is important to emphasize is more of a holistic approach to designing the best gear for the athlete on the field.”The NFL and players’ union believe the top manufacturers not only are doing so, but are rapidly making improvements and innovations for safety, comfort and appearance. And, yes, the theory that some new models are being designed simply to get high test ratings has been addressed.“We have heard that discussed that there may be an effort by some to build to the test,” says Jeff Miller, the league’s executive vice president of health and safety initiatives. “We think that better performing helmets certainly are a positive. We are seeing due to the testing and engineering road map that there are better and more protective helmets being produced, and the players are wearing them on the field. We’re trying to educate the players, equipment managers, athletic trainers, everyone http://www.seahawksauthorizedshops.com/authentic-marquise-blair-jersey , with the poster and the supportive material for it.”Jeffrey Crandall, the league’s consultant to the independent testing, explains that the poster shading was done to ensure players could make informed choices on helmet safety, comfort and appearance.“Many things go into the helmet, with safety the primary factor,” Crandall says. “If a player is going to switch models during camp, for example, or try a different helmet during the season, if they look at what others are using, maybe they can learn from it.”He adds that in the past year more than 50 percent of the players upgraded their helmets.” If we get to players, equipment managers and athletic trainers, they all look at the poster and we go through all the aspects: Changes in helmets, how some models are similar to ones players were wearing that were prohibited or in the yellow (ranking),” he said.“We go through every helmet players will use in a year and might be able to tell them, ‘Here is a helmet that tested better and has the attributes you might be looking for.’ There is not a helmet that has not been looked at (thoroughly).” DAVIE, Fla. (AP)Miami Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills vacationed this offseason in Africa, led several teammates on a training trip to Nebraska and returned to find the NFL’s national anthem debate again at peak volume.”We’ve got to clean up how things are looking,” Stills said following the Dolphins’ first training camp practice Thursday.The sixth-year pro is part of the debate because he kneeled during the anthem the past two seasons and has been vocal discussing social injustice issues that inspired the protest.Stills would prefer the league had no anthem policy so players could do as they wished, and said he’ll wait until a policy is set to decide what he’ll do during the anthem this season.”At some point before the season starts T.J. Hockenson Jersey , the league and the players association are going to come to an agreement,” he said. ”And at that point I’ll have a better idea what I’ll be doing.”Last week the league and union issued a joint statement saying the two sides are still working on a resolution. Their statement came hours after The Associated Press reported Dolphins players who protest on the field during the anthem could be suspended for up to four games under a team policy issued last week.The Dolphins subsequently issued a statement saying all options regarding the team’s policy remain open.On Thursday, coach Adam Gase said he doubted a Miami player would be suspended for protesting during the anthem.”I mean, if anybody knew actual rules in the NFL, good luck suspending somebody,” Gase said. ”It takes about 5,000 things before anybody can get suspended by a club.”Gase said he doesn’t see anthem issue as potentially divisive for his team.”I think they do a good job of when issues come up, they get together and hammer it out,” Gase said. ”These guys aren’t shy about speaking up. They’ve done a good job of making sure, as a group, they talk through things.”Three-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jurrell Casey also plans to continue protesting, but wants people to quit seeing this as an anthem issue. The Tennessee Titans lineman said he will continue protesting by raising his fist at the end of the anthem.”The biggest thing that we have right now is the way the justice system is set up for minorities,” said Casey, whose wife is an attorney. ”And that’s just what the whole battle is about, trying to bring light to enlighten the things that’s going on around the minority community.”The league hasn’t been able to reach an agreement. On Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he’ll insist his players stand for the anthem.Stills’ reaction to Jones’ comments?”I wouldn’t expect anything different,” Stills said.Stills said he hadn’t spoken much with Dolphins owner Stephen Ross about the issue since last year. Ross didn’t attend the first day of training camp.Stills tuned out the anthem debate this offseason by traveling to Victoria Falls, Kruger National Park and Cape Town, where he learned about African culture Jahlani Tavai Jersey , went on safaris and tried bungee jumping. More recently, he spent time in Lincoln, Nebraska, with other Dolphins wideouts and a receivers coach he has known since he was in the 10th grade.”The anthem stuff was becoming a really quiet, quiet topic,” Stills said.No more. Defensive end Robert Quinn, who protested during the anthem while with the Rams last year, was asked following his first Dolphins practice what the league should do about a policy.”I’ll just say one thing: It’s called freedom of speech,” he said. ”Simple as that.”Quinn, Stills and others have been targets of criticism for their protests, which they believe have been misconstrued as unpatriotic.But Stills was nominated by teammates last year for the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, a reflection of his standing in locker room. His latest community project is with the nationwide OK Program, which mentors young black men.”I think I’ve done a good job of trying to figure out ways to continue to use my voice and platform for the right things,” Stills said, ”and put the messaging back in the right direction.”—